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Residents give input on Americans with Disabilities Act plan

Daily News - 10/24/2018

Oct. 24--To help meet the accessibility needs of residents with disabilities, the City of Jacksonville wants to hear from those who know best as they update its Americans with Disabilities Act plan.

Transportation Services Director Anthony Prinz said the public input meeting held Tuesday evening was a kick-off event and they also want to meet with various community agencies for input as well. The city is also continuing to take suggestions as it finalizes its draft plan.

Prinz said the city is required to update the plan every 5 years and the document is used to guide the city as it works toward compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

The ADA has been in place since 1990 but compliance by communities is a long-term process as many public facilities and infrastructure are much older than that and Prinz noted it takes time and funding to make the conversions.

"One of the things we are challenged with is much of our infrastructures was in place before 1990 and because of that it is a long road to transition structures to meet ADA standards," Prinz said.

But helping the city along the way is the input from its residents.

Prinz said at the end of the meeting that several representatives of a group for the hearing impaired attended and he hopes to be able to meet with that group to get further input.

Prinz said one of the things he learned is that meeting the needs isn't one-size-fits-all, and while closed captioning may work well in one case, another person may require an interpreter.

And when it comes to mobility and transportation, Jacksonville resident Joseph Traumer said sidewalks and bike paths are important infrastructure and consideration should be made for those who are using wheelchairs or have other disabilities.

Traumer said the width of a standard sidewalk makes it tight for someone in a wheelchair if someone else is with them. Just having wider sidewalks would help.

Prinz said there are "passing zones" that can be added along sidewalks that have wider sections if people need to pass by someone.

Traumer said he was not aware the city had one near the State Employees Credit Union on Western Boulevard and he'd have to go by and see it.

"This is the type of feedback we're looking for while talking to residents," Prinz said.

Residents can email comments to JUMPO@jacksonvillenc.gov or call the City Clerk's office at 910-938-5224. Comments will be taken through Nov. 20.

Reporter Jannette Pippin can be reached at 910-382-2557 or Jannette.Pippin@JDNews.

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